would stop the increase of the estate tax. the president has asked democratic leader harry reid to prepare a separate bill to put on the senate floor that would increase taxes for households that earn a quarter million dollars or more, and respect -- expect republicans would block that proposal. but rather than take it back as a stopgap measure, think of it as a political move to try to shift the responsibility of failure on to republi watches the hour of reckoning. >> as the deadline approaches, our coverage of the fiscal cliff negotiations continue on television and on-line at wjla.com. >> some people in the area are still cleaning up after the high wind thursday. and, apart, a tree crashed through a house. -- in takoma park, a tree crashed through a house. in mclean, trees littered the georgetown park way. >> maryland health officials are reporting their first death related to hypothermia of the season. the health department says a 65- year-old man died in frederick county between december 18-24. pulte officials did not rel